The city government is providing assistance to the thousands of fire victims in Pagadian City, Zamboanga del Sur.

Councilor Juan Climaco Elago II said they have adopted a resolution authorizing Mayor Beng Climaco to set aside funds to give cash assistance to the Pagadian City’s fire victims.

Elago, who authored the resolution, said Thursday they also encouraged the residents of this city to donate in cash or in kinds for the fire victims.

Elago said the donation can be coursed through the City Council.

He said they will travel to Pagadian City on June 12 to turn over the donations and other assistance to the fire victims through the city government of Pagadian.

He recalled that Pagadian City was among the local government units that helped this city during the 21-day September 2013 siege.

More than P20 million worth of properties were reduced to ashes during the fire that broke out around 12:10 p.m. Monday in one of the houses at Purok Campo Islam, Barangay Santiago.

The fire fanned out towards the adjacent barangay of San Pedro due to strong winds and razed at least 1,500 houses mostly made of light materials and semi-concrete structures, a school and a day care center.

A septuagenarian man was killed while his wife was injured in the fire that lasted for four hours. — R.G. Antonet A.Go